Device for changing indicia into electrical signals

ABSTRACT

A device is used for changing into electrical signals indicia applied to an information carrier in the shape of nonlevel markings, such as holes, notches and the like. The device is particularly characterized by a piezoelectric converter connected with feeling means which are resiliently pressed against the inscribed lengths of the information carrier, as well as a transporting device for shifting the information carrier relatively to the feeling means in the direction of the inscribed lengths.

United States Patent [191 Hoffman et a1, i

[111 3,816,710 I451 June 11, 1974 Filed:

DEVICE FOR CHANGING INDICIA INTO ELECTRICAL SIGNALS Inventors: Udo Hoffman, Erlangen; Siegfried Eiben, l-lessdorf, both of Germany Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft,

Erlangen, Germany Sept. 20, 1971 Appl. No.: 182,083

Foreign Application Priority Data Oct. 3, 1970 Germany 2048714 US. CL. 235/61." C, l79/100.4l PE, 310/8.3 Int. Cl.-..... G06k 7/00, HOlv 7/00, H04r 17/00 Field of Search. 235/617 B, 61.11 C, 61.111-1;

340/347 D; l79/100.41 PE; 3l0/8.3

References Cited 7 UNITED STATES PATENTS 6/1941 Armbruster..... 235/6l.l2 R

Primary Examiner-Thomas J. Sloyan Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Richards & Geier [57] ABSTRACT A device is used for changing into electrical signals indicia applied to an information carrier in the shape of nonlevel markings, such as holes, notches and the like.

The device is particularly characterized by a piezoelectric converter connected with feeling means which are resiliently pressed against the inscribed lengths of the information carrier, as well as a transporting device for shifting the information carrier relatively to the feeling means in the direction of theinscribed lengths.

1 Claim, 3 Drawing Figures FATENTEDJUMI 1914 3.816311 0 INVENTO (la/0H0 m nMS' 15' ff Bn 4 (amine! A Pro [LN 1.95

This invention relates to a device for changing into electrical signals indicia applied to an information carrier in the shape of non-level markings, such as holes, notches and the like.

Devices for feeling perforated strips or cards are known, wherein electrical signals corresponding to the markings are produced by feelers provided with mechanical contacts. These devices are expensive and subject to breakage due to their complicated structure and the use of mechanical contacts.

It is also known to use photoelectrical elements to change markings applied to a perforatedstrip or card. into electricalsignals, wherein the flow of light is interrupted by mechanical screening devices during the feeling of the perforated strip or card in accordance with the perforations. Devices of this type are also expensive and subject to breakage due to the complicated feeling and blending mechanism.

Furthermore, the known devices are suitable only for examining flat information carriers, namely perforated: strips or cards, but are not intended for use with information carriers which are shaped in a different manner. For example, a special arrangement of additional construction elements is necessary, when markings applied in the form of holes upon a small hollowcylindrical tube, are to be transformed into electrical signals by known devices. Such tubes are used; for example, medically to receive for testing liquids from a human body. They have a sectionseparate from the actual liquid container with information in the form of holes concerning the. patient and the testing of the liquid. These holes serve in an information treating apparatus for the automatic filling and division of the tubes.

An object of the present invention is to improve existing devices through the provision of a device for changing indicia into electrical signals of simple structure which is not susceptible to breakage and which can be used for feeling indicia carriers of all possible shapes, including curved ones.

Other objects of the present invention will become apparent in the course of the following specification.

In the accomplishment of the present invention it was found desirable to use a piezoelectrical converter connected with feeling means which are resiliently pressedv against the inscribed lengths of the information carrier, along with a transporting device for shifting the-information carrier relatively to thefeeling means in the direction of the inscribed lengths.

Thus a basic feature of the present invention is the use of a piezoelectrical converter for transforming markings applied upon an information carrier in the shape of non-level locations into electrical signals. Due I to the use of the piezoelectrical converter the mechanism for feeling the markings can be made very simple, so that the device of the present invention operates without any disturbances or breakages and can be constructed quite cheaply. As opposedto known pick-up devices operating withpiezoelectrical elements, the-device of the present invention does not produce a continuous outgoing signal, but the piezoelectrical converter supplies an impulse to the information treating apparatus only when an uneveness moves past the feeling means. Thus the piezoelectrical converter supplies 2 at its outlet a sequence of impulses corresponding to the markings upon the information carrier which are then treated by the information treating apparatus.

The invention will appear more clearly from the following detailed description when' taken in connection with the accompanying drawing showing by way of example only, preferred embodiments of the inventive idea.

In the drawing:

FIG. 1 is a perspective diagrammatic view of a test tube having markings in the form of poles.

HO. 2' is a diagram illustrating an indicia changing device of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a'diagram illustrating another embodiment of the inventive idea.

The embodiments of the present inventionshown in FIGS. 2.and 3 are used for transforming into electrical signals markings having the shape of holes which are provided upon'thelittletest tube shown in FIG. 1. The test tube is intended for receiving samples of liquid of ahuman body, which are to be analysed. The tube consists ofan'upper hollow cylindrical portion liwhich is closed atthe-bottom andserves to receive the liquid'to be tested, and a lower part 2-whichisopenat the bot- .tom and into which holes3have been impressed'which constitute coded information about the patent and the analysis which is to be carried out.

In order to produce a sequence of impulses corresponding to the'holes 3 and thus producinginformation about the patientand the analysis to be carried out; the testtube is placed according to the embodiment shown in FIG. 2 between two sockets 4 and 5 and-is rotated about its longitudinal axis by a friction wheel 6 driven by an electromotor 7. Each of the coaxial marking paths -25 to 28 upon the lower part 2'ofthe test tube is engaged by one of the feelers29 to 32 ofa pienoelectricalv feeling device 33 to 36.

One such feeling device, namely, the feeling device 33 is illustrated in FIG. 2'. It includes the feeler29 having a pointed end, while its other end is connected with a piezoelectrical element 9 by means of an elastic hose 23. The other end of the piezoelectrical element 9 is connected elastically by a hose 24with a pin 10 which is fixed in a supporting device 11. The hose 23'and 24 press resiliently'the feeler 29 with its sharp end against the corresponding path upon the lower part 2 of the test tube.

Whenever a hole moves-in front of the point of feeler 29, the hose 23 and 24 will press thispoint into the hole, whereby the piezoelectrical element 9 will be somewhat bent and will supply at its outlet electrode 12 electrical voltage which is changed into a rectangular impulse in a signal forming device 13. The sequence of impulses taking place during the rotation of the test tube at the outlet of the signal forming device 13 issupplied for further treatment to the information treatment device 14. Other feelers 30 and 33 produce corresponding impluse sequences while they feel the other inscribed paths 26 to 28'upon the lower part 2 of the test tube.

The embodiment of a feeling device of the present invention shown in FIG. 3 also has, as in the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, two sockets 4 and 5 holding the test tube which is rotated by a friction wheel 6-driven' by an electromotor 7 for feeling markings provided,

ing path upon the lower part 2 of the test tube and is fixed by its angular portion 17 upon a plate spring 18.

In operation, the plate spring 18 presses the feeler with its point 19 against the corresponding inscribed path of the lower part 2 of the test tube, so that the hammer 20 always strikes the free end of the piezoelectrical element 21 when a hole passes the point 16 of the feeler 15. Thus the piezoelectrical element 21 produces an outgoing voltage which corresponds to the markings of the corresponding inscribed path upon the lower part 2 of the test tube. This outgoing voltage is again supplied to the signal forming device 13 which actuates the information treatment device 14. In this embodiment as well, a separate feeling device of the illustrated type is used for each of the inscribed paths upon the lower part 2 of the test tube.

The piezoelectrical cells 9 and 21 shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 consist advantageously of strips of piezoceramic material.

We claim:

1. A device for reading indicia consisting of holes, notches and other non-level markings upon a hollow cylindrical tube adapted to receive liquid samples, said device comprising a piezoelectric converter, for electrically reading said markings, feeling means connected with said piezoelectric converter and pressing resiliently against the marking paths of said tube, means for rotating said tube about its longitudinal axis relatively to said feeling means, and an information treatment device connected with said piezoelectric converter, said information carrier having a plurality of marking paths, the piezoelectric converter having a number of piezoelectric cells corresponding to that of the marking paths, said feeling means comprising a separate feeler for each marking path and a separate hammer connected with each feeler and striking a cell when the feeler is swung by a marking upon its marking path, a separate plate spring firmly connected with each feeler and hammer, and a holding device carrying said plate springs. 

1. A device for reading indicia consisting of holes, notches and other non-level markings upon a hollow cylindrical tube adapted to receive liquid samples, said device comprising a piezoelectric converter, for electrically reading said markings, feeling means connected with said piezoelectric converter and pressing resiliently against the marking paths of said tube, means for rotating said tube about its longitudinal axis relatively to said feeling means, and an information treatment device connected with said piezoelectric converter, said information carrier having a plurality of marking paths, the piezoelectric converter having a number of piezoelectric cells corresponding to that of the marking paths, said feeling means comprising a separate feeler for each marking path and a separate hammer connected with each feeler and striking a cell when the feeler is swung by a marking upon its marking path, a separate plate spring firmly connected with each feeler and hammer, and a holding device carrying said plate springs. 